A-10 jet engine nacelle damaged by missile in Iraq on display at Air Zoo

PORTAGE, MI – The Air Zoo in Portage is the new home for a
unique military artifact.

An engine nacelle from an A-10 Thunderbolt that was damaged
by a missile during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 was transported from the Air
National Guard Base in Battle Creek to the Air Zoo on Wednesday.

An engine nacelle, or cowling, is an enclosure that houses
the engine. The 110th Airlift Wing, based in Battle Creek, operated
the aircraft when it was damaged.

Maj. Gary "Wolfman" Wolf was piloting the plane on April 8,
2003 when it took off from Kuwait to support troops as they approached Baghdad.
The aircraft was providing low-altitude overhead reconnaissance when it was
struck in the right engine by an enemy surface-to-air missile, according to a
press release.

"Although the initial impact was substantial, the aircraft
never departed controlled flight," Wolf said in a press release. "This is a
true testament to the combat survivability of the A-10."

Despite extensive damage, Wolf was able to pilot the
aircraft 120 miles to safety. The engine and nacelle were replaced and the
aircraft was put back into action. The damaged nacelle was flown back to Battle
Creek, according to the release.

Ronald Wilson, 110th Vice Commander, led a maintenance team
in the restoration efforts and assembly of the cowling for display.

"The cowling was destined for the scrap pile," Wilson said.
"We had been out of the A-10 business for some time. When I approached our
maintenance folks to see if there was any possibility to save this historical
piece of our heritage, they jumped right in."